Lightning strike sets palm trees on fire
A lightning strike was the cause of a brush fire last Wednesday.
Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Lewis said fire crews were summoned to Lockspur Avenue just after 5 p.m., after a thunderstorm rolled through the area behind the Home Depot.
“There was a group of palm trees that were struck by lightning in that area,” Lewis said. “They were in close proximity to a manufactured steel commercial structure. While the trees were extinguished without extensions, fire crews were mindful that there was additional lightning in the area.”
Lewis also noted that fire crews have safety protocols whenever they are responding to an emergency during weather where lightning storms are approaching.
“We try to exercise implements that are designed in our apparatus,” he said. “For example, our brush truck can operate the front turret nozzle from the inside, which will keep our personnel in a safe area during a thunder and lightning storm while still affecting the suppression. We didn’t have to do that in this case because the lightning was still off in the distance but we were keeping close watch on it. It was not an immediate issue for us.”
On Friday, fire crews responded to several motor vehicle collisions.
The first occurred along south Blagg Road at Comstock Circle just after 2 p.m.
“We were dispatched for a motor vehicle accident and rescue assignment at that location,” Lewis said. “Upon arrival, we found a box van versus a sedan. The driver of the automobile was mechanically entrapped due to the position of the box van. We extricated the patient and transported her to the local hospital.”
On Saturday, fire crews were summoned to a two-vehicle collision with entrapment along Highway 372 just east of West Street just before 1 p.m.
“This was in front of the Sears and the Dollar Tree store,” Lewis said. “Upon arrival, we found a T-bone type collision, where one person was mechanically entrapped inside their vehicle. Crews removed the door and accessed the patient who was transported to the local hospital.”
Several hours later, fire crews responded to the 2900 block of Wisteria Way for a vehicle fire just before 6:30 p.m.
“Upon arrival, we found a tractor fire with no immediate exposures,” Lewis said. “That fire was quickly extinguished without incident. The cause appeared to be a mechanical failure in the area of the engine compartment.”
On Sunday, fire crews were dispatched for a report of a brush fire on Irons Street between Linda and Leslie streets at 5 p.m.
“We found a grass fire that was running alongside the roadway,” Lewis said. “There were no immediate structure exposures. Crews quickly controlled and extinguished the fire without incident.”
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes
